Control device for pump



sept. 24, 1963 F. v. GRAMENZI CONTROL DEVICE FOR PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 26, 1962 L@ L P 4, f 7 y. 5 2/ ,a .a I 5i T 7/ 2 sept. 24, 1963 F. v. GRAMENZI 3,104,614 CONTROL DEVICE FOR PUMP Filed Jan. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,l04,614 COOL DEVHSE EUR PUMP Frank V. Gramenzi, 322 Line St., Camden, NJ. Filed ian. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 168,960 4 Claims. (Cl. lr03-2S) The device of the invention pertains to con-trols for pumps and more particularly to a control for -a sump pump which is pumping lliquid trom an enclosure.

A purpose ofthe invention is to start `a pump :when the level of the liquid rises to .a predetermined level in an enclosure and then continue the pump until the level of the liquid falls below the pump suction level -in the enclosure.

A further purpose is to start the pump at a predetermined liquid level and to keep the pump running as long as there is -liquid pressure at the discharge of the pump.

A further purpose is to eliminate oa-t valves in the control of a sump pump.

A further purpose is to flex a diaphragm under the pressure created by the rise in liquid level in a sump and then to keep the diaphragm iiexed by liquid under pressure from the pump discharge.

A further purpose is to stop the pump when the pump stops ydischarging a liquid and begins dischargi-ng a gas.

A Ifurther purpose is to position a valve in the inlet to a chamber adjacent to the llexible diaphragm yfrom the sump which will permit flow of liquid into the chamber but which will prevent ilow of liquid `from the chamber when the liquid pressure in the chamber is yabove a predetermined pressure.

A further purpose is to utilize one chamber adjacent to a dlexible 4diaphragm which is adapted to receive a rising vvater level from a source and also .a pump disf charge pressure wherein the chamber tirst receives the pressure from the rising water level to -lex the diaphragm and then receives the discharge pressure from lthe pump to hold the diaphragm iiexed.

A further purpose is to use a valve which permits a rising water pressure to ilow into a chamber and then prevents the liquid Vin the chamber from llowing out through the rising water inlet when pressure is applied to the chamber from the sump pump discharge.

A lfurther purpose is to combine electrical switch means with the flexible diaphragm to close an electrical circuit to -a motor driven pump.

Further purposes appear in the specication and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to` illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the `form shown Ifrom the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

lFIGURE l Iis a diagrammatic sketch of a system employing .the con-trol device of the invention.

FiGURE 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the control device showing the sump full and the valve open.

FIGURE 3 is a partial section taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FlGURE 4 is a ver-tical sectional elevation similar to FIGURE 2. showing the lchamber full of liquid under pressure from the pump discharge.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevation circuit to the pump.

showing the chamber empty of liquid and the valve open.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

In many 'applications in the pumping of liquids it is desirable to start the pumping operation when the liquid level in a sump or the like reaches a certain height land to continue the pump in operation until the liquid yfalls to a certain predetermined lower level. One prior art means of accomplishing this pump control is to use a float which rides on the surface of the liquid and which is mechanic-ally connected to a switch which turns the pump on and oi. This method requires numerous moving parts which become rusted, jammed and frequently leaky. The pump either fails to go on or once on is not stopped so that much damage ymay result. Furthermore, the level differential between the high level .and low level position is limited by the Amechanical connections to the iioat.

Other means for controlling the pump have been utilized wherein the rising water level in a container causes a diaphragm to flex which in turn makes a switch contact to start the motor of `a pump. The pump u-nder these conditions is continuously stopping and starting since the diaphragm only ilexes through a small dimension laterally and it is this dimension which controls the pump action through the electrical switch.

Eiorts have been made .to utilize the discharge pressure of the pump to keep the pump operating until there is no longer liquid .at the pump suction, by utilizing the pump dis-charge pressure, as `for instance shown in Bern hardt U.S. Patent No. 2,488,506. These devices have been extremely complex Iwherein a plurality of chambers have been used to sustain the various pressures.

In the present invention a single chamber having an inlet -from the sump and an inlet `from the pump discharge is subjected rst yto the pressure from the rising water level 4and then from the pump discharge whereupon valve means close the inlet from the sump. When the pump no longer receives liquid at the suction and hence is not discharging liquid at the discharge, the pressure in the discharge falls causing the valve in the inlet trom the sump to open, thus releasing lall pressure and lliquid from the chamber whereupon the original position of the diaphragm is restored and the electrical switch breaks the Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a control device i-n a system. It should be understood that the arrangement shown is by way of illustra-tion only and not by way of limitation since any of numerous arrangements can be used to incorporate the control device of the invention int-o a pump system.

Control device Ztl has an inlet 21 connected to a sump or container 22 carrying liquid 23. The system is arranged to .turn a pump 24 having a suction 25 and a discharge 2.6 on and oft.

When the liquid level in sump 22 reaches location 27 the pump is turned on and when the liquid level in sump 2.2 reaches point 28 the pump is turned oit. A connecting line 30 is connected to pump discharge 26 and chamber inlet 31. Electrical conductors 32 and 33 (partially shown in FlGURE l) connect with the pump motor from the control device 20.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the control device will be Y p'ush button moves outwardly under a spring bias.

9 in the position shown whenV the watervlevel shown in the system of FIGURE 1 is at its turn-on point 27. The inlet line 2l 'connects to the'control housing .34 having an Iinlet 35. The inlet 2l may be connected to the housing 315. by screw threads 36 as shown or by welding, soldering or the like. .The inlet 55 joins .a chamber 37 having shoulders 38 and sides il which flair into a flange portion al.

Y Y Also leading into chamber 37 is inlet 3l which receives connecting line 3b from the pump discharge. A ilexible diaphragm composed of rubber or `the like is stretched across the chamber 37 and secured to the flanges 4l by a suitable retaining ring 43. A thicker portion dfi can be suitably constructed integral with the diaphragm 42 to provide'a stronger bearing surface, or a rubber gasket or the like may be placed between the diaphragm and the ange to provide .a secure joint. The retaining ring 43 is held by bolts i5 which are set into tap holes inV the ilange el. A substantially rigid bearing plate 45 is joined to diaphragm 42 Vat the center of the diaphragm to provide a surface to bear against switch button 46.

The valve 50 is positioned in the inlet 35 where the inlet 35 joins chamber 37. The valve has a lower secwardly directed ilange' 52 which bears against the shoulder 38 and an annular wall S3 which fits against the walls of the inlet 35. A disc portion 54 having curved slots 55 stretches across the inlet 35. Y j Y An upper valve section 56 is similar to the lower valve section 51 but has no slots 55. A helical compression spring 57 separates the sections 5l and 56 which are slidably connected together by bolt and nut 58 which extends slidably through a hole in the center of the lower portion '54. The bolthead 5d is iixed to the upper valve section at di). y y A Spider arms 6l extend from retaining ring 43 and are suitably integral therewith. An electrical switch 62 having a push button lo is positioned over diaphragm 42 V phragm 42. upward causing bearing plate 45 to force whereby push button 46 is generally at the center of bearing plate 4S. The electrical switch is connected to theV spider arms by screws or other suitable means.

rlhe switch 62 is of the conventional type which makes an electrical circuit when the button is pushed in against a spring bias and wherein a circuit is broken when the Suitable electrical leads 32 and 33 are connected to switch 62 and Vform the circuit to the `electrical motor which is made and broken by switch 62. The electrical connections and supply to the pump motor are of any conventional and suitable type and are not shown herein.V

A cover plate having cylindrical sides d4 and a flat top 65 is joined to retaining ring i3 by bolts 6d screwed in tap holes 67 in the retaining ring. A rubber'rbushing 68 provides cushion means for carrying leads 32 and 33 through the cover plate.

vlt will be understood that the valve Sb, inlet 35, housing 34, diaphragmrZ, retaining ring i3 and cover 63 are suitably of circular form in horizontal section and that the switch 62 may be of any suitable type.

In operation, when the liquid -is below llevel 2%, the pump 24 is off .andno liquid is being'drawn from sump V2?; through suction 25 to discharge 25. The liquid in sump 22 rises until the liquid level reaches level 27. This level 27 is determined by the elevation at which the ydiaphragm 42 is'placed. The control device of the invention is desirably positioned with respect to the liquid in the sump sothat the diaphragm i2 in an unflexed position lies in a'plane parallel to or Iin the plane of the level of the liquid 23. The level of the diaphragm 2 in the unilexed'position will effectively determine the j liquid level at which pumping is started.

As the level of the liquid 23 4ris-es in sump 22 it also push button de of switch 62 inwardly closing the circuit through conductors 32 and 33 to the motor of pump 24 turning the pump 24. on.` i

Pump 24 draws iiuid through suction 25 from sump 22 and forces the liquid at increased pressure out discharge pipe Z6. This discharge pressure at 7.6 is transmitted through inlet line 3@ to inlet 3l through housing 34 into chamber 37. VSince'this discharge pressure at 26 must be greater than the static head resulting from liquid level '27 in order to pump the liquid, ythe pressure at inlet 3l becomes greater than the pressure at inlet 35 and the liquid in chamber 37 has a tendency to flow 'out inlet 3S. This tendency to flow out inlet'35 overcomes the spring bias of helical spring 57 and upper valve section Sois ,forced over lower valve ysection 52, sealing oir flow through inlet 35 and inlet line 2l. lt will be evident that the suction of the pump is connected through inlet 2l to the lower portion of valve 5@ and tends to maintain a differential pressure to close the valve. Y

The liquid in chamber 37 is then tnapped and transmits the pressure at inlet 3l from the pump discharged to all parts of the iluid in `chamber 37. This' ykeeps diaphragm 4Z flexed with bearing plate 45 lagainst push but-ton 46 of switch 62, keeping theV circuit closed and electrical energy flowing to the motor of :pump 24. The

pump 2d continues to pump and the liquid level of fluid Z3 continues to fall until the level 2S is reached. At this point the pump 24 looses the iluid in suction line 25 and no more fluid -is being pumped through the pump. rhe liquid 23 is suitably open to the atmosphere. Since no more huid is passing into thegsuction of pump 24, the uid ycannot tbe pumped out at 26 Ia-nd ya iluid pressure maintained, so that the pressure drops to atmospheric at 2s. This pressure drop is carried through line 3d to inlet 3l and the iluid'in 37 is relieved through line 3l or through line El after the valve d@ opens. The valve 5@ opens under the bias of spring 57 when the liquid in chamber .'57 is 'no longer subjected to the discharge pressure of the will doubtless become evident to others skilled-in the art,

to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, kand l, therefore, claim `all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having Athus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pumping system having a sump, a pump, a suction connection from the pump to the sump, a discharge from the pum-p, and rmeans for actuating said pump, a Y

pressure operated switch for controlling said actuating means comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing, a flexible diaphragm sealing one iside of the chamber, electrical switch means in contact with the diaphragm. a first inlet to the chamber `from the sump, a second inlet to the chamber from the pump discharge, and valve means in the first inlet to errnitV fluid from the sump to` enter the Chamberland prevent fluid from the pump discharge to leave the chamber, whereby pressure from the iiuid in the sump ilexes the diaphragnrto close the electrical switch means and pressure from the pump discharge keeps the diaphragm ilexed.

2. Aswitch of `claim l, wherein the valve means comprises a lower stationary section fixed in the inlet and having slots to permit How of iiuid, a vertically movable References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bernhardt Nov. 15, 1949 Enyeart et al. Apr. 21, 1953 Ruilie July 7, 1953 Staak Aug. 27, 1957 Lisac Nov. 29, 1960 Nielsen Dec. 4, 1962 Tutthill Dec. 25, 1962 

1. IN A PUMPING SYSTEM HAVING A SUMP, A PUMP, A SUCTION CONNECTION FROM THE PUMP TO THE SUMP, A DISCHARGE FROM THE PUMP, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PUMP, A PRESSURE OPERATED SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING SAID ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING A HOUSING, A CHAMBER IN THE HOUSING, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM SEALING ONE SIDE OF THE CHAMBER, ELECTRICAL SWITCH MEANS IN CONTACT WITH THE DIAPHRAGM, A FIRST INLET TO THE CHAMBER FROM THE SUMP, A SECOND INLET TO THE CHAMBER FROM THE PUMP DISCHARGE, AND VALVE MEANS IN THE FIRST INLET TO PERMIT FLUID FROM THE SUMP TO ENTER THE CHAMBER AND PREVENT FLUID FROM THE PUMP DISCHARGE TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER, WHEREBY PRESSURE FROM THE FLUID IN THE SUMP FLEXES THE DIAPHRAGM TO CLOSE THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH MEANS AND PRESSURE FROM THE PUMP DISCHARGE KEEPS THE DIAPHRAGM FLEXED. 